Cover Story

JEWISH
TRADIT ION
3

Shir Tikvah becomes first American synagogue
to join Jewish Renewal community
while retaining Reform movement a diation.

SHELLI LIEBMAN DORFMAN
Staff Writer

travel and learning experiences over the
last three years, including learning at
two Israeli yeshivot. He studied
bile typical Jewish
Hinduism in India, Buddhism in
Renewal and Reform
:6. Thailand and, in Nepal, he learned
congregations hold serv-
how Hinduism and Buddhism can be
ices and programs in sep-
used together in daily spiritual life.
arate quarters, at the distinctive
This July, Rabbi Sleutelberg partici-
Congregation Shir Tikvah in Troy the
pated in his first Aleph Kallah, an
service is one and the same, with con-
international gathering of Jewish
gregants sharing affiliation with both.
Renewal artists, leaders, performers
On July 11, the synagogue's board of
and teachers, sponsored by the
trustees voted unanimously to join the
Philadelphia-based Aleph: Alliance for
Network of Jewish Renewal
Jewish Renewal. He says he came back
Communities, an organization connect-
charged from "the most exhilarating
ing the more than 50 Jewish Renewal
Jewish experience of my life." Three
congregations worldwide. However,
days later, Shir Tikvah members met to
they did so while retaining the Reform
hear from the rabbi and vote to join
movement affiliation they've held since
the Jewish Renewal movement.
they formed 18 years ago.
"We're not doing anything different
This step makes Shir Tikvah the
than we've done in the past," says syna-
nation's first congregation to hold
gogue President Joan Slyker of Pleasant
membership in both the Jewish
Ridge. "But now, as Jewish Renewal
At Congregation Shir Tikvah, Rabbi Sleutelberg shows a Torah to Randi, 7, Brian,
Renewal association and Reform's
members we have the opportunity to
13,
Kevin,
11,
and
Donald
Davidson
of
Pleasant
Ridge.
Union of American Hebrew
expand our knowledge and resources.
Congregations.
This is not a change. It is an affirma-
"Shir Tikvah has been on the path of
tion of who we already are."
Jewish Renewal for more than six years
tion, according to the rabbi. He says service "atten-
"We already were a practicing Jewish
now," synagogue Rabbi Arnie Sleutelberg says of the
dance has skyrocketed" with a newly instituted
Renewal community," Rabbi Sleutelberg says. "We
non-denominational movement that combines a tra-
Music Shabbat program inviting congregants to
espouse the values and practices, in addition to those
ditional, Chasidic-movement base with the philoso-
bring their instruments.
of Reform.
phy that Judaism is an evolving religious civilization.
"I foresee many more such vibrant experiences
"I felt guilty about taking the gems of Renewal
Embracing a lifestyle of tikkun olam (repairing the
through Jewish Renewal," says Rabbi Sleutelberg,
without offering back our own commitment in the
world) and tikkun halev (healing the heart), Jewish
who last March was presented with a lifetime con-
form of money and support. We're just giving back
Renewal also integrates Jewish mysticism into con-
tract by his 335-household congregation.
after receiving from them for years."
temporary Jewish life.
In obtaining membership in the Jewish Renewal
Shir Tikvah members were introduced to Jewish
organization, Shir Tikvah joins only one other
Renewal by their High Holiday service leader Eli
Sp iritual Judaism
Michigan congregation, Pardes Hannah in Ann
Cohen of Santa Cruz, Calif. "He started us on the
"Like every rabbi in the world, I'm on a spiritual
Arbor. Founded by Rabbi Elliot K. Ginsberg, the
journey, adopting many Jewish Renewal practices in
6 1 /2 -year-old chavurah (study-worship group) meets
journey, always growing and learning and experienc-
our services," Rabbi Sleutelberg says of Cohen, who
ing new things," Rabbi Sleutelberg says.
the second and fourth Saturday of each month at
for the last year has been a Jewish Renewal rabbini-
"When I become particularly charged by a spiritu-
the Conservative Beth Israel Congregation building
cal student.
al practice, it is my honor and privilege to share it
for services, niggunim (chanting), meditation and
Cohen's use of Chassidic music, meditation,
with those I care about — my congregants."
mystical exploration. They also hold study sessions
chanting and dance — characteristics of Jewish
Celebrating his 13th year with the synagogue, the
and community service programming.
wreP Renewal services — was embraced by the congrega-
rabbi divided a six-month sabbatical into several
Although the commitment by Shir Tikvah to join
40 1;

Ilir

8/31

2001

18

